United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2021 to 2030 as the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development – the “Ocean Decade”. INOS has join a collective global movement to create the Ocean we Want!

This nationwide program  started last March was part of Ministry of Environment and Water effort to initiate a national movement by enhancing visibility of government support towards the ocean decades movement.

During UMT’s program, more than 1000 students from all over Malaysia learnt a lot about the oceans and did it in a fun and exciting way, thanks to UMT’s recent initiative in organizing the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science@Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. The event was part of UMT’s effort to promote ocean literacy among the community.

Two sessions were held during the event, the morning session themed “Ocean Literacy – Securing the Future through Education” and the afternoon session themed “Ocean Future – the Science we Need for the Ocean we Want”. The sessions were conducted by several UMT researchers well versed in all thing’s oceans. In the morning session, the researchers created three different slots on ocean literacy and ocean connectivity with authentic student activities to promote engagement and personal connections. The slots involved around 850 students, including pre-schoolers, primary and secondary school students, as well as youths from all over Malaysia.

A lecture by eminent scientist in the worlds was organized in the afternoon entitled ‘Science and Education Requirement at the Verge of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’ was delivered by Dr Arico Salvatore, Head of Ocean Science, IOC UNESCO. Another lecture entitled ‘Delivering Ocean Forecast Service for Ecosystem and Humanity’ was given by Professor Dr Fangli Qiao, Vice Chairman, IOC-WESTPAC.

The session was then followed by an interactive forum entitled ‘Ocean Decades: Shaping Researchers’ Mindset for Right Action’, with invited panellists from UMT and Universiti Malaya. The event highlighted the need for more ocean literacy programmes that can guide informed decision making, the exact spirit within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.

Other than conducting highly important research in the field of oceanography, researchers in INOS always feel that it is high time to connect the people to ocean. In a hope that the people can becoming more ocean literate, a prerequisite for becoming better ‘sea’tizens.